Monday, May 31, 2010

Week 4 mileage = 28Total challenge mileage = 97Weeks left in challenge = 3Miles/week to meet challenge = 26I'm psyched with my miles, but I was on track to do 30 (30!!) miles last week. Then I came down with some kind of bug over the weekend that eliminated my Saturday run and decreased my Sunday run. Fortunately I had done a few short 1 mile runs earlier in the week to practice running in my orthotics that helped make up for the lost mileage.

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May mileage = 100!!!YTD mileage = 337.5

When I was adding up my miles this morning, I realized I was 3 miles short of hitting 100. Today was supposed to be a rest day, but there was NO WAY I was going to get that close to 3 digits and not hit it. I would crawl those 3 miles if necessary! So despite my super tired legs, I ran those last 3 miles this evening. VERY proud of myself.

Family Review: Our friend Genevieve dined with us. The halibut was from the back of the freezer (I'm too mortified to announce publicly how long it was probably there) but it turned out great. The cornbread was a gluten-free mix that also needed to be used up. I have no idea how it ended up in our pantry, but it was pretty good. The kids probably ate more cornbread than fish, but there were no complaints.

Saturday - Pancakes (Matt made them for the kids as I wasn't feeling well)

Black Bean & Sweet Potato Enchiladas

2 tsp oil

1/2 cup diced onion

2-3 diced sweet potatoes

2 cups of cooked black beans (with liquid)

2 cups spinach

12+ corn tortillas

salt/pepper

Enchilada sauce (I use Hatch brand, but someday I'd like to make my own!)

sour cream

grated Mexican cheese blend

Preheat oven to 375. Heat oil in large skillet. Add onions and brown slightly. Add sweet potatoes, cover, and cook 10-15 min until softened. Mix in beans and greens. Cover and cook until spinach is wilted. Season with salt & pepper.

Spread 1/2 cup of enchilada sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Warm tortillas so they will roll easier. Place a dap of sour cream and a scoop of filling in each tortilla, roll and place in pan. Cover with remaining sauce, sprinkle with grated cheese and bake for about 20 min.

Grilled Halibut with Black Bean & Papaya Salsa

½ cup diced onion

2 T olive oil½ cup seeded and diced red bell pepper

¼ cup diced celery

1/8 tsp ground cumin1/8 tsp chili powder

1/8 tsp ground red pepper

s/p to taste

½ cup cooked black beans

2 T red wine vinegar

1 cup diced papaya

4 half-pound halibut fillets

2 tsp sesame oil

1 T coarse kosher salt

Freshly ground pepper

¼ cup grated orange zest

Lightly brown the onion in the olive oil over med-high heat, and then stir in the bell pepper, celery, cumin and spices. Sauté for 1 min.

Transfer to a stainless steel bowl, and season with salt and pepper. Add the cooked black beans and all remaining ingredients, tossing to combine. Chill.

Pour the sesame oil over the halibut fillets and season with salt and pepper. Top with the grated zest and chill in fridge for 20 minutes.

Grill halibut for 6-7 min each side, or until it flakes with a fork. Top each fillet with ¼ cup chilled salsa.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Nina Sprinkles and Oscar have become such good friends and make the cutest little couple. They are opposite - small, white dog and big, black cat - but are the best of friends. They are loving the warmer weather and stay busy exploring the backyard together.

The other day I saw them together stalk and chase a squirrel across the yard and up a tree. Nina and Oscar then sat at the bottom of the tree while the clearly annoyed squirrel chattered at them.

I wish I could have gotten it on video. I do have a few photos of them exploring and wrestling in the grass.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

I want to start sharing some of the quilts I've been making on my new machine (which I love, love, love!!!), but I wasn't planning on showing them on my blog until after I've given them away. I'm not sure I can make it that long for some of them.

This one I titled "First Baby" as it is the first baby quilt I've given away and is going to a first baby expected in early July. I used Moda fabric from the Botany line with a quilt on this blog as the inspiration. I didn't think to measure it, but it is about the size of a standard crib quilt.

Monday, May 24, 2010

Informed by the rotor rooter guy with his little camera in my sewer drain that my entire line needed to be replaced*

Oh... and that was all by 10am. Not the bestest way to start the week. And while the rest of the week certainly had its highlights, I sorta feel like that first morning set the stage, and I never fully recovered from the funk.

This week is going to be different! Summer vacation officially starts today for us. We slept in, baked some breakfast, and are hoping to go visit a new friend and take her for a walk. A fresh morning, a fresh week, a fresh season.

I can envision myself living in my Airstream B190. Decorated to my tastes. Carrying with me only my prized possessions. Traveling America (and maybe Canada & Mexico also!). Seeing the sites. Sleeping up top. Cooking fresh produce that I procure along the way. Quilting or reading in the quiet evenings.

Think I might be feeling a tad overwhelmed that I want to escape to live alone in an RV??

Friday, May 21, 2010

This is the video I couldn't find last week. I really like the girl's haircut even though there are just short glimpses. I think it is sorta like my cut now anyway, but it still looks better when you blow dry it.

Thursday, May 20, 2010

I feel like that photo (of my bald baby on his first birthday) was just taken yesterday. Here is where I posted about the start of his preschool career, and today we wrapped up his preschool days with a final performance and party. And in just a few short months he'll be off to kindergarten! He's all registered, and last week we went to kindergarten round-up. Jack is excited. Mommy not so much. Sniff.

First day of Pre-K this year

End of Pre-K

(As nostalgic as I feel right now, I have to admit that I am pretty happy that I don't have to pay preschool tuition anymore!)

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Last night I was looking around outside for Oscar (our kitten - now almost cat!) when I heard a funny, squeaky, scratchy noise coming from the front yard. I went to investigate and just as I rounded the front corner of the house I saw a (big!) mommy raccoon coming down our front tree with 3 baby raccoons attempting to follow her. They were so cute with their little tails and funny noises. I hollered for Matt to come see which scared the little guys back up. I attempted a few photos, but my camera wasn't focusing well in the dark. I managed to get a few.

Cute Rascal

Little Guy with his siblings' tails

Trying to scurry away to a higher branch

We could hear them chattering through our open window as we went to sleep. I just hope they'll come out early one evening so the kids can see them also!

Monday, May 17, 2010

Because of weather, various ailments, children, quilting distractions and plain laziness, my running schedule got a little screwy last week. I ended up pushing my long run to today. Had to get up early to get it done. I am counting it in last week's miles because I got it in before I blogged today. I have 26 miles planned for this week (which might be a bit optimistic for the last week of school), and then I need to figure out how I'll fit running into all our summer plans. I'm guessing there will be many more early mornings...

Saturday, May 15, 2010

A few months ago we put our old cohousing place under contract (although I'm still - to this day - having second thoughts about selling it. I love my house, but a part of me still wants to move back to cohousing!) contingent on the buyers selling their current home. As of yesterday, their house is now under contract. It looks like we'll be selling/closing on our cohousing place in mid-June. While I still feel pretty attached to that home, I'm very excited to be getting our equity out. We'll put most of it into our investment account but will celebrate by spending a bit of it for fun. Now we have to decide how to spend it!

I'm itching for one of these. Matt is itching for one of these. Somehow I think neither of us is going to get what we want (although I think I have a better chance!). I just wish there was enough for a master suite addition...

Friday, May 14, 2010

Seeing my friend Jennifer's blog post about taking Sam skating for the first time reminded me that I should post about Jack's first skating experience last weekend. Kate was invited to a birthday party at the skate rink, so Matt & I decided to take Jack skating at the same time.

He was a bit wobbly at first...

But eventually he got a little better...

(I would love to have photos of my daughter skating, but she would have NOTHING to do with us during the party!)

Thursday, May 13, 2010

There are snowflakes falling from the sky as I type this. May 13th. We are only 2 days away from our freeze date, and there are snowflakes falling in my backyard!! Thank goodness my friend Amanda who works at the garden store talked me out of buying tomato plants the other day...

since I can't be outside planting my garden, instead I've been sitting inside at the computer using the Gardener's Supply Company Garden Design Planner. What fun!

Monday, May 10, 2010

I got part of my Mother's Day present early on Saturday - front porch furniture! I've really wanted a place to sit and read in the late summer afternoons when the backyard gets too hot. Or a place to relax with drinks in the evenings while the kids ride bikes on the front sidewalks. Our front porch is fairly narrow and most of the porch furniture these days is SO big. I was thrilled and quickly threw on my favorite pillows from Magical Scraps.

We wandered the zoo a bit, but it was super crowded so we left early. We did get to see the 2 baby giraffes and the twin lion tamarins. Such cuteness. Although I felt for that mommy tamarin with 2 babies clinging to her back. I know what that feels like!

Got to do some shopping with my friend Ashlee and fit in my long run. (My total running mileage for the first week of Colorado Mom's challenge is 28 miles - plus just under a mile of swimming and about 20 miles on the bike!) I had a little extra encouragement on my run as I had my favorite Mother's Day present - a motivation card from the kids - tucked into my running belt!

Saturday, May 08, 2010

Has it really been a full week since I posted on this silly blog? I have so many things I mean to write about but not the time to actually do it. Life seems to be going by at lightning pace as we get closer to the end of the school year, but it is full of all good things.

Got to spend some child-free, dessert time with my friend Ashlee.

Was plastered up for my orthotics.

Went to the kids' school carnival. Photo shows two tired children coming off their sugar high!

Had date night with Matt at the gym (soromantic, huh?) followed by dinner at Shuga's.

The kids ran in the Kokopelli Kids Race #2. Kate did about the same as last week. Jack started strong but got a side ache midway through (must be in the genes!) and only the Gatorade and gummy fruits could lure him across the finish line.

Matt took me on my first official road bike ride through the Garden of the Gods. I'm definitely more of a "touring" biker than a "racing" biker. I actually prefer the uphills over the downhills because I don't like going faster than about 15mph. Overall it was great, but the stop at Starbuck's was my favorite part of the ride.

Sunday, May 02, 2010

Sat - we all slept in, kids brought me breakfast in bed (and then ate most of it!), Matt took the kids out to lunch while I worked on my meditation space (more on that at some point), took Kate to a birthday party, Uncle Markle came down from Eagle county to visit us, Matt made dinner (how come he gets credit for dinner when he made just the main dish and I made 3 side dishes AND dessert?), and Matt & Mark made Moab plans while I puttered around before going to bed.

Sun - woke up before everyone else, meditated in my new meditation space (woohoo!), ate a big breakfast, took a walk in the park to check out a hen house with Uncle Mark, discussed hen house plans with Uncle Mark, the boys all went to the hardware store while Kate & I played dress-up (oh, how I wish I had a picture to share!), Kate & I went to the grocery store while the boys hung a book rack in Kate's room (not easy on 100+ year old plaster walls!), watched the snow fall (it's MAY!!), had grilled cheese and tomato soup for lunch, learned how to counter sink a screw from Uncle Mark before saying goodbye (he also gave me a little bit thingy to help along with a good, used drill!), Matt took the kids to Target while I relaxed/cleaned/did whatever it is I do, we researched/planned/measured for future hen house and tree house, ate leftovers for dinner, cleaned the kitchen while Matt put the kids to bed, made lunches and snacks for the week, puttered some more and now finally going to bed.

Saturday, May 01, 2010

Last night we took the kids to this year's first Kokopelli Kids Race. The kids love it and both did great. I liked that they ran at different times - Jack in the preschool race and Kate in the kindergarten race - so that there was no competition between them and so they could each cheer each other on. Both races were a 1/2 mile course, and both kids ran a faster pace than I do... lovely. We had fun and can't wait for the next one.

The first (and only other!) time we have done this series was back in 2007 when Jack was only 2 and Kate was 3. It was such a flop that we waited 3 years to try again. Look how much my babies have grown!

2007

2010

I wanted to snap photos of the kids at the finish line but also wanted to have some video of each of them, so I had the kids take the videos of each other. Jack's video of Kate is priceless! If you listen in the video, you'll hear me tell Jack to "follow her all the way to the finish line." It seemed obvious to me that I just wanted him to turn the camera towards the finish line, but Jack took me literally and took off running to catch Kate at the finish. Two falls, a bit of being lost, and a child's view of the crowd, but he finally got the finish line shot that he thought I wanted...